Table 3.

Sensitivity analysis of the generalized estimating equation for the outcome of total hospital cost. A) using a propensity matching analysis with 1:1 matching between NICU and CICU (NICU referent) B) excluding patients with in-hospital mortality adjusted for the prespecified covariates, C) excluding patients with prematurity adjusted for the prespecified covariates.

	A. Total Hospital cost (propensity score model)		B. Total Hospital cost (excluding prematurity)		C. Total Hospital cost (excluding mortality)
Age at admission/admission location	Adjusted difference	p-value	Adjusted difference	p-value	Adjusted difference	p-value
0–1 days
CICU	$5,541	0.3	$4,760	0.5	$1,650	0.8
PICU	--	--	$16,030	0.04	$12,510	0.07
2–7 days
CICU	−$17,446	0.02	−$20,300	0.002	−$10,490	0.12
PICU	--	--	−$25,590	0.01	−$17,630	0.02
8–14 days
CICU	−$42,748	<0.01	−$14,670	0.1	−$20,850	0.02
PICU	--	--	−$21,560	0.04	−$24,440	<0.01
>15 days
CICU	−$16,432	0.4	$3,530	0.8	−$3,290	0.8
PICU	--	--	−$14,340	0.3	−$14,140	0.3

NICU - Neonatal intensive care unit, CICU - cardiac intensive care unit, PICU - Pediatric intensive care unit